Who Am I? Part III

Good morning. Welcome to November.....can you believe it?????

I am so grateful for the cooler days especially the mornings

This is probably my most favorite time of the year

I am also so thankful for the rain.....much needed rain…Praise God for His provision for us!

I hope you all fell back okay this weekend....what a blessing to gain an hour of sleep!

I have been asked several times about the Weber open house it is tomorrow from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm and is come and go

I want to take a moment and thank James and Tracy Washburn again for hosting Worship night at their place

I also want to thank all of you who came out last Sunday night

The worship and fellowship was absolutely amazing and I cant wait for next year!!!!!!

Let’s Pray

If you will recall we are in the middle of the IT sermon series looking at the only two things that truly matter in life

salvation

and

discipleship

to understand these two God is leading us through a mini sermon series Who am I?

Because to understand salvation and discipleship we must understand who we are in Christ Jesus!!!!!

We are doing that in Romans 8 and if you will recall the first thing we looked at that answers the question Who Am I

is Free....Free in Christ

the second is In the Spirit

This morning we will look at the third

III. Patiently Waiting vs 18-30

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Romans 8:18–30

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18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified

Because of God not sparing Jesus

because of salvation

because of our love for Christ

because we know God is completely trustworthy and we fully believe all He has to say and promise

because of all of that we wait patiently

I want to look at 3 aspects of waiting....why we wait..what we are waiting for etc

1. Future Glory vs 18-25

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Romans 8:18–25

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“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

Present sufferings are nothing compared to future glory

not our glory

His glory

As Christians you and I are to be focused on future

not earthly future

but our heavenly future

we endure the present because of what is waiting for us

eternal life with Jesus forever!!!!!!

Jesus is worth the wait

His glory will make any sufferings look so trivial and unworthy of worry

or anxiety or trouble

The problem is we focus on the temporary and wordly and miss the eternal and heavenly

2 Corinthians 4:17–18

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“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

earth is temporary

actually quicker than that

momentary

a mere matter of moments

you tend to focus on the things seen

what you see

taste

touch

feel

the right here and right now

what is sad is many will trade eternity with Jesus in heaven for temporary fixes here on earth

Temperance is lost today

self-control

actually not self-control but allowing Holy Spirit to control

If you are saved

If you truly love Jesus

you must focus on the unseen

Deny yourself here in the seen to live with Jesus for eternity in the unseen

You are driven by the temporal

the fleeting

the momentary

the here today gone tomorrow

when you focus on the seen

you have to be in Gods Word to truly get this

so many never go past the milk of the Gospel

They never truly dig into

study Gods Word

therefore the unseen stays unknown

Just because you cant see it doesn't mean you cant know it

What are some of the unseen things you should focus on?

Colossians 3:4

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“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

eternal life

you get saved and Christ becomes your life because He saved you

gave you eternal life

Not only did He save you but in Jesus you are new

You are a new creature

2 Corinthians 5:14–18

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“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”

The old things

the old ways

the old beliefs

the old thoughts

the old actions

the old words

the old is gone the new is here

Your past is dead

your flesh is dead

your sin is dead

you have to kill it each and every day but it is dead and has no power over you because you are new

I am so very happy each of you are here this morning

I am so happy each of you watching our livestream are worshipping with us via internet this morning

I am so happy those watching this later on our website or app are here

but if you are here to gain favor

if you are here to please the Lord

if you are here to earn your salvation

if you are here to up your good deed total

if you are here for any other reason than you love Jesus and you thank God for what Jesus did on the cross for you and because of that you want to honor and serve Him

if you are here for any other reason than knowing God more you are wrong

that is old

that is dead

that is gone

You are to be in church, Jesus established the church

Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to neglect gathering

you are to be here but if you are here just to fulfill a requirement you miss the point

Jesus created the church for us to worship Him

Jesus created the church for us to learn about Him

Jesus created the church for us to fellowship, edify, rebuke each other.....do life together

Jesus created the church for His Word to be proclaimed

That is why you are to be here

You are to be here in church because through Christ you will appear in glory!

Think about glory

ask God to reveal the splendor and majesty of His glory

dream about being hid in Christ and appearing with Him in His glory

1 Peter 1:6–7

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“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

Because you fully believe Christ is coming again

can’t be a Christian

cant be saved without believing Jesus will return

because Jesus is coming again you greatly rejoice at the temptations and tribulations and heaviness of the temporary season

why

not because God loves to see you hurt

not because you love to be hurt

no

because you believe the unseen

the trials during the temporary enables you to be found and know the unseen and eternal

2 Peter 3:13

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“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

You endure today

you ignore the seen because of the unseen

New heaven and new earth

perfection is coming

Gods creation as it was intended is coming

no more pain

no more hurt

no more sin

no more flesh

only righteousness and glory

Stand on that

dream about that

focus on that

let those thoughts drown out the seen

1 John 3:2

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“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

you are children of God

you know if children then one day you will appear with Him

appear like Him

you will see Him as He is.....God almighty

In all His splendor and glory

all His power and provision

All His love and protection

God Himself as He is!!!!!

Wow!!!!!

Dream about that moment

Long for that moment

you know that moment is coming so you ignore the seen

ignore the temporary

ignore the momentary

ignore the now because the eternal is infinitely better

corruption is here

sin is here

God’s creation longs for corruption and sin to be in the past

Romans 8:20–21

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“For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

God tells you that you will be delivered from that corruption

the bondage of the temporary and seen

the bondage of corruption

the bondage of sin and death will be forever destroyed

God said so

believe it

focus on it

let it drive you

ignore the seen and focus on the unseen!

Think about the rejoicing and glory that will happen when it is finished

Jeremiah 12:4

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“How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.”

God’s creation mourns

what does it mourn

you and me

wickedness

sin

destruction

corruption

all that dwell within it

creation longs to be delivered and made new

as a Christian you are spiritually new....one day you will be physically new as well

Do you get it

do you see it

stop focusing on the now

stop focusing on the temporary

stop focusing on the seen

Focus on God

Focus on His glory

Focus on eternity

Another reason we patiently wait is Holy Spirit

2. Holy Spirit intercedes for us Vs 26-27

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Romans 8:26–27

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Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

The Holy Spirit prays for you

How cool is that

how life changing is that

God prays for you!

The Spirit makes intercession for you

Maketh intercession comes from Greek verb meaning to intercede on behalf of

you wait patiently because the Holy Spirit is for you

He speaks to God for you on your behalf

You and I pray but think about how inadequate our prayers really are

Isaiah 55:8–9

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“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God’s ways are so much higher than our way

God’s thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts

because His thoughts are so much higher than your thoughts

because His ways are so much higher than your ways

because that is truth then you and i cant comprehend God let alone know what to pray

Holy Spirit is God

He knows God’s will in your life

He knows exactly what to pray!!!!

How encouraging is that????

How many times have you been down here.....maybe are there right now.....wrestling with trying to know and understand God’s will for your life

That is a great thing to seek after by the way but you have to realize you will never truly understand God’s will for you

you will never be able to comprehend let alone know how to pray for God’s will in your life

so there for Holy Spirit is interceding

talking to God about you

for you

praying God’s will to God for you!!!!!

Since Holy Spirit prays for you

You can fully trust

3. God works all things out for good vs 28-30

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Romans 8:28–30

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“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

This doesnt apply to all people

Not everyone is God’s child

not everyone loves God

not everyone is called according to His purpose

God desires that none should perish but all come to repentance we find that truth in II Peter 3:8-10

The only way to be God’s child

the only way to love God

the only way to be called according to His purpose

is through Jesus

you must accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior

once you have Jesus then and only then does this apply to you

This doesnt mean all things will be pleasant

this doesnt mean all things that happen are intended to help you

Evil exists

satan is actively trying to kill you

steal from you

destroy you

evil will persecute you

sickness will come

death will come

life is hard

life hurts

however as God’s Child with Holy Spirit praying for you

you know God works even what is intended for evil

he works even that our for good

Genesis 50:20

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“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

you know the story hopefully

Joseph

loved dearly by his father and hated by his brothers

his brothers wanted to kill him but sold him to traders and he winds up in slavery in Egypt

While there he ends up in an Egyptian officials house

God blesses him and he ends up in charge of all his household

The wife gets jealous and tries to sleep with Joseph....he runs out but she pulls of his cloak and makes up a lie about Joseph that he tried to attack and sleep with her and he gets thrown in prison and forgotten

He gets restored from that by God and ends up 2nd in all of Egypt right behind Pharoah

All because God blessed him and worked good from his brothers evil

Long story short here in Genesis 50:20 we see Joseph declaring what God had done

Throughout it all he loved his brothers and trusted God

He was wanted dead by his brothers

sold into slavery

mistreated

falsely accused and jailed

forgotten but through it all he says You meant it for evil but God used it for good

God is still doing that for His children today

do you believe

are you willing to ignore what you see to believe what you cant see?

God is working things out for your good in your life right now if you are a true believer

if you are saved

If you have made Christ Jesus your Lord and Savior

that is truth

you are new

the old is gone the new is here

You may be struggling......Joseph’s life was a struggle but through it all he kept focused on the unseen....God Himself!

Your situation may be terrible right now

you may be facing trials

tribulations

maybe even perscution

someone may intentionally be trying to harm or destroy you

will you focus on the seen or the unseen.....God working all that out for His glory and your good!

You have heard the Word proclaimed

You have heard God’s truth

the question now is what are you going to do with it

be a doer and respond if God is calling you to do that

or

be a hearer only and leave here in worse shape than when you walked in because you rejected God’s calling and moving in your life this morning

Invitation